Article transfer apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for individually and sequentially transferring from an article transfer station to an article receiving station each of a plurality or sequence of articles of ware such as disk or dishlike articles which are intermittently delivered in a selected time sequence to said transfer station. The apparatus includes a rocker arm having one end secured to a rockshaft for reciprocative movement through an approximately 180* vertical arc of travel and supporting on its second end an aeriform fluid chuck for carrying each article between the transfer station and the receiving station. The output shaft of an electric motor is connected to the input shaft of a gear box through electrically actuated clutch-brake means which are selectively energized in synchronism with the delivery of each article to the transfer station and the transfer of each article to the receiving station. The output shaft of the gear box is connected to supply the reciprocative movement to the rockshaft and the rocker arm through a rack and pinion gear means. Valve means are also provided to selectively supply negative and, if desired, positive aeriform fluid to the chuck in a selected relationship with the reciprocative movement of the rockshaft and the rocker arm.

United States Patent Giffen 1451 July 18,1972

[54] ARTICLE TRANSFER APPARATUS [72] Inventor: James W. Giflen, 109 SlyAvenue, Coming, NY. 14830 [22] Filed: May 27, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:147,426

670,888 9/1963 Canada ..2l4/l BV Primary Examiner-Gerald M. ForlenzaAssistant ExaminerFrank E. Werner Attorney-Clarence R. Patty, Jr. andCharles W. Gregg 57 Answer Apparatus for individually and sequentiallytransferring from an article transfer station to an article receivingstation each of a plurality or sequence of articles of ware such as diskor dishlike articles which are intermittently delivered in a selectedtime sequence to said transfer station. The apparatus includes a rockerarm having one end secured to a rockshaft for reciprocative movementthrough an approximately 180 vertical arc of travel and supporting onits second end an aeriform fluid chuck for carrying each article betweenthe transfer station and the receiving station. The output shaft of anelectric motor is connected to the input shafi of a gear box throughelectrically actuated clutch-brake means which are selectively energizedin synchronism with the delivery of each article to the transfer stationand the transfer of each article to the receiving station. The outputshaft of the gear box is connected to supply the reciprocative movementto the rockshaft and the rocker arm through a rack and pinion gearmeans. Valve means are also provided to selectively supply negative and,if desired, positive aeriform fluid to the chuck in a selectedrelationship with the reciprocative movement of the rockshaft and therocker arm.

Patented My 18, 1972 3,677,419

' 4 Sheets-Sheet. 2

INVENTOR. James W. Giffen e/Ma YKhy AGENT Patented July 18, 1972 4Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. James W- Giffen Fig. 8

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James W. Giffen AGENT ARTICLE TRANSFER APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONThere is shown it U.S. Pat. No. 2,623,648, issued Dec. 30, 1952 toGeorge E. Rowe, a glassware transfer apparatus in which there isemployed a pneumatic or air-actuated rack and pinion means for operatingthe glassware transfermeans of the apparatus. Also, there is shown in.FIG. 1 of US. Pat. No.

3,393,495 issued July 23, l968-to Thomas F. .I-lillman et al. an articletransfer mechanism 23 of a well-known type and employing a vacuum chuckfor picking up each of a succession of articles, such as flat orrelatively shallow dish-like articles, and for transferring each saidarticle from an article transfer station to an article delivery orreceiving station. Article transfer apparatus .or mechanism such asshown and mentioned in said patents have not, however, been'entirelysatisfactory in their operation and, therefore, the article transferapparatus of the present invention was developed to provide an articletransfer means which operate more satisfactorily in transferringarticles of the type mentioned froman article transfer station to anarticle receiving or delivery station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the practice of the invention disclosed,there is provided an aeriform fluid chuck which is carried on a firstend of a rocker arm whose second end is secured to a rockshaft whichisreciprocatively actuated by a rack and pinion gear means throughapproximately 180 of rotation by an electric motor having an outputshaft connected through an electrically actuated clutch-brake means tothe input shatt of a suitable gear box. The output shaft of said gearbox is connected to said rack and pinion gear means for said rotation ofsaid rockshaft and, thereby, actuation of said rocker arm throughapproximately an 180 vertical arc of movement extending between anarticle transfer station and an article receiving station. A set of camsare alsoprovided for actuating electrical circuit means and valve meansin synchronism with the arrival of each said article at said transferstation and in synchronism with said movement of said rocker arm forselectively energizing said clutch-brake means and supplying vacuum ornegative aeriform fluid tosaid chuck means for pickup and transfer ofeach said article arriving at said transfer station.

Other characteristic features of the invention will become apparent asthe description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the apparatus embodying the inventionwith part of the housing for such apparatus substantially broken away tobetter illustrate the apparatus arrangement within such housing;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a limit switch and valve meanscomprising part of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 2, suchview being taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 comprises a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 3, suchview being taken generally along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 comprises a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 3, suchview being taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view, partially in cross-section, of avacuum chuck comprising part of the apparatus 'of the present inventionshown in FIG. I, such view being taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG.1;

FIG. 7 comprises a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. I, suchview being taken generally along line 7-7 of wheels used in practicingthe invention disclosed; and

FIG. 12 is an operational schematic drawing provided for purposes ofillustration of the operation of the apparatus disclosed herein.

Similar reference characters used in the drawings designate similarparts of the apparatus herein disclosed.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 7of the drawings in detail,

there is shown an apparatus housing H comprising a composite member 9including a base 10, a front wall 11, a back wall 12, one side wall 13,a top wall 14 and, in conjunction therewith, a second side wall 15which, in practicing the invention disclosed, is secured, as by screwssuch as 16, to composite member 9 with a sealing material or suitablegasket to provide an oil leakproof seal between the otherwise contactingparts of composite member 9 and said second sidewall 15. Housing H alsoembodies, adjacent base 10 and in the back wall 12 of such housing, adrain plug 17 for draining an oil from the interior of the housing whenit is so desired. A suitable opening is provided in the top wall 14 ofhousing H for supplying said oil or lubricant into the housing but suchopening is not shown in the drawings for purposes of simplificationthereof. Back wall 12 of housing H also embodies an opening 12a againstthe exterior surface of which is disposed, in a sealed relationshiptherewith, a flange portion of a gear box GB whose output shaft 18extends into the interior of housing H. The input shaft 19 (FIG. 12) ofgear box GB is mechanically connected or coupled to the output shaft 21of an electrically controlled or activated clutch brake means orassembly CBA whose input shaft 22 is connected or coupled with theoutput 23 of shaft of an electric motor M. Such arrangement is not shownin detail in FIG. 1 of the drawings but is shown schematically in FIG.12 since such arrangements of motors, clutch-brakes and gear boxes arewell known. This will also be further discussed hereinafter in anoperational example of the invention taken in conjunction with FIG. 12of the drawings. There is keyed to previously mentioned output shaft 18of gear box GB, and in a rotational relationship therewith, a first spurgear 861 whose teeth mesh with the teeth of a second spur gear SG2 to behereinafter further discussed. A first or lower end of a crank arm CA ispivotally and eccentrically connected to the otherwise free face of spurgear 801 for driven reciprocative motion of the crank arm by rotation ofsuch spur gear. The second or upper end of crank arm CA is pivotallyconnected with the upper end of a rack R having teeth meshing with theteeth of a pinion gear PG which is keyed to a hollow rockshaft RS fordriven reciprocative rotation thereof by reciprocative linear motion ofsaid rack in the manner well known in rack and pinion gear arrangements.Rack R is supported in housing H by a vertically extending slide trackST (FIGS. 1, 7 and 8) which is affixed to sidewall 13 of housing H as byscrews or bolts such as 26. Slide track ST includes a groove or channel27 (FIGS. 1 and 8) in which a longitudinal flange portion 28 provided onthe back of rack R (FIG. 8) fits in a relatively snug but slidablerelationship therewith.

Previously mentioned rockshaft RS is rotatably mounted in housing H byextending through suitable bearings 31 and 32 supported in the front andback walls 11 and 12, respectively, of housing H. The end of rockshaftRS extending through bearing 31 has clamped or otherwise affixedthereto, in a driven rotational relationship therewith, a first end of arocker arm RA whose second end is secured to one end 330 and supports ahollow and preferably substantially horizontally extending arm 33 havinga hollow tube 34 extending snugly but rotatably through the hollow ofsuch arm 33 with the first and second ends of such tube 34 alsoextending beyond the ends 33a and 33b of arm 33. A vacuum or pressurizedfluid chuck CH is supported on, depends from, and is afiixed to the endof tube 34 which extends through end 3312 of arm 33 and such chuck CHembodies an aeriform fluid passage 82 which hermetically connects withthe hollow of said tube 34. Chuck CH will be discussed in more detailhereinafter in conjunction with FIG. 6 of the drawings. A leakproofannular seal 8 surrounds rockshaft RS adjacent previously mentionedbearing 31.

The end of tube 34 which extends through end 330 of arm 34 is providedwith a rotary union RU and the hollow in such tube is therebyhermetically connected through such union RU to a first end of a fluidconduit or pipe 36 whose second end is hermetically connected to thehollow extending through rockshaft RS and to the end of such hollowwhich is adjacent the end of rockshaft RS to which there is clamped, orotherwise has affixed thereto, said first end-of rocker arm RA. Rotaryunions such as RU are old and well known in the art. There is mounted,adjacent the end of tube 34 which is connected to said rotary union RU,a sprocket wheel SP2 which is keyed to tube 34 to provide a limitedamount of rotational movement of such tube as further mentioned below.Another sprocket wheel SP1 is affixed, in any convenient manner, to thepart of the front wall 11 of housing H which supports the aforementionedbearing 31 through which rockshaft RS extends. An endless drive chain CNextends or is looped about the teeth of sprocket wheels SP1 and SP2 inthe manner well known in the art and for the well-known purposehereinafter mentioned.

The end of rockshaft RS, which extends through bearing 32 supported inthe back wall 12 of housing H, also extends into an aeriform fluidcontrol or valve means VM and the hollow in rockshaft RS hermeticallyconnects with an aeriform fluid chamber V3 embodied in main body memberV of flow control means or valve VM so that aen'fonn fluid can besupplied, as hereinafter discussed, to the hollow extending throughrock-shaft RS and thence to previously mentioned chuck CH which as alsopreviously mentioned, will be discussed hereinafter in more detail. Aleakproof annular seal 6 (FIGS. 1 and 3) surrounds rockshaft RS adjacentthe end thereof which extends into said chamber V3. Valve means VM, asbest illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and of the drawings taken in conjunctionwith FIG. 2, comprises a main body member V which embodies a positivepressurized aeriform fluid main pressure chamber VI which is, atselected times hereinafter discussed, connected by actuation of a poppetvalve 40 to a secondary chamber VlA for delivery to such chamber VIA ofpositive pressurized aeriform fluid and supplying such fluid through apassage 42 to a vacuum or negative aeriform fluid main chamber V2 alsoembodied in body member V which main chamber is, at selected timeshereinafter discussed, connected by actuation of a poppet valve 41 to asecondary chamber V2A for delivery of negative aeriform fluid or vacuumto said chamber V2. A passage VlC extends from chamber V1 through bodymember V of valve means VM and connects to one end of a conduit or pipe46 (FIG. 3) for supplying said positive pressurized aeriform fluid tochamber VI. A passage V2C extends from chamber V2A through body member Vof valve means VM and connects to one end of a conduit or pipe 47 (FIG.3) for supplying said vacuum or negative aeriform fluid to chamber V2A.The sources of said positive pressurized aeriform fluid and of saidvacuum are not shown in the drawings for purpose of simplificationthereof. Chamber V2 in body member V of valve means VM is also connectedby a passage 43 (FIGS. 3 and 5) to the previously mentioned aeriformfluid chamber V3 also embodied in body member V of valve means VM. Aplate 48 is secured to the top of valve means VM as by bolts such as 49and hermetically seals chamber V1 and V2 embodied in the valve means.Valve means VM is hermetically secured as by Allen-head screws 51 (FIGS.2 and 5) to the part of the back wall 12 of housing H which holdspreviously mentioned bearing 32 (FIG. 1) supporting rockshaft RS.

Valve stems 40a and 41a of previously mentioned poppet valves 40 and 41,respectively, extend snugly but slidably down through passages V113 andVZB which extend vertically through body member V of valve means VM fromchambers VIA and V2A, respectively, and connect with recesses 52 and 53,respectively, provided in the bottom wall of said body member V. Aflanged member 54 is secured in said recess 52 and embodies a chamber 56in which there is housed a compression spring 57 surrounding valve stem40a of poppet valve 40 near the lower end of such stem. The extremelower end of valve stem 40a extends through a passage 58 embodied in thelower part of flange member 54, and such lower end is slotted andpivotally supports in such slot a roller or wheel 59 whose outerperiphery rides or bears against the outer periphery of a cam wheel C3to be hereinafter discussed. Compression spring 57 surrounding valvestem 40a biases poppet valve 40 downwardly in chamber V1 to seat orclose therein in the manner well known in the an. However, as will befurther discussed hereinafter, poppet valve 40 is illustrated in FIG. 4as being open or unseated, that is, raised from its seated position by araised part or point CIA on the outer periphery of cam wheel C3 pushingagainst roller 59 and, thereby, pushing valve stem 40a in a direction tounseat or open valve 40.

Another flanged member 64 is secured in the previously mentioned recess53 provided in the bottom of body member V of valve means VM. Member 64embodies a chamber 66 in which there is housed a compression spring 67surrounding valve stem 41a of poppet valve 41 near the lower end of suchstem. The extreme lower end of valve stem 41a extends through a passage68 embodied in the lower part of flange member 64 and such lower end isslotted and pivotally sup ports in such slot a roller or wheel 69 whoseouter periphery rides or bears against the outer periphery of a camwheel C l to be hereinafter discussed. Compression spring 67 surroundingvalve stem 41a biases poppet valve 41 in chamber V2 to seat or closetherein as illustrated in FIG. 4 and in the manner well known in theart.

An electrical circuit controlling limit switch LS is, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, secured in any convenient manner to mainbody member V of valve means VM. Such limit switch has an actuating arm71 which extends downwardly from the bottom of limit switch LS (FIG. 2)and pivotally supports a wheel or roller 72 whose outer periphery ridesor bears against the outer periphery of a cam wheel C2 to be hereinafterdiscussed. However, it is now pointed out that the actuation of arm 71of limit switch LS in the right hand direction (viewing FIG. 2) opens aset of normally closed electrical circuit controlling contacts embodiedin limit switch LS. Such actuation of arm 71 is performed by a highpoint C2A on cam wheel C2 during rotation of such cam wheel ashereinafter further discussed and, following the actuation of arm 71 bysaid high point C2A, arm 71 returns to its position shown in FIG. 2 andsaid electrical circuit controlling contacts embodied in the limitswitch again become closed or return to their normally closed condition.Limit switches such as LS are well known components and, therefore,internal details of the switch are not shown in the drawings forpurposes of simplification thereof. However, the set of electricalcontacts embodied in limit switch LS are shown schematically in FIG. 12and are designated LSCl and LSC2. This will be further discussedhereinafter.

The previously mentioned second spur gear SG2 is suitably keyed to oneend of an axle or shaft 76 (FIG. 1) for driven rotation of such shaftwhich is rotatably supported in suitable bearings 77 and 78 mounted andhoused in an extension 12b of the back wall 12 of housing H. There iskeyed to and adjacent the second end of shaft 76, which extendsexteriorly of housing H, the previously mentioned cam wheels C1, C2 andC3 which are, thereby, rotatively driven by the driven rotation of axleor shaft 76 as hereinafter further discussed in more detail. A leakproofannular seal 7 surrounds shaft 76 adjacent previously mentioned bearing78.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 of the drawings, previously mentioneddepending vacuum chuck CH comprises a tubelike member 81 through whichthe previously mentioned aeriform fluid passage 82 extends and connectsat its upper end to the hollow in tube 34 extending through arm 33. Asleeve-like member 83 closely but slidably surrounds the outer peripheryof the lower end of tube-like member 81 and a compression spring 84surrounds portion 81 of chuck CH adjacent the upper end of such member81. The lower end of such spring bears against the upper surface ofsleeve member 83 while the upper end'of such spring ears against thelower surface of a washer 86whose upper surface bears against a nut 87which is is threaded onto the upper end of tube-like member 81 of chuckCI-I. Thus, compression sPring 84 normally biases sleeve member 83downwardly against a lower flange portion 81a ofmember 81.

Chuck CH further includes at its upper end a support member 88 (FIG. 1)which is affixed, in any convenient manner, to the end of tube 34extending out of end 33b or arm 33. Tube-like member 81 of chuck CH issupported to and on the bottom of support member 88 of such chuck in anyconvenient manner and so that fluid passage 82 hermetically connects, aspreviously mentioned, with the hollow extending through tube 34extending through arm 33. A strip or annular band of a substantiallyheat resistant and somewhat resilient material 91 is wound about thelower end of sleeve-like member 83 and is secured to such lower end ofsuch member by a well-known type of hose clamp 92 surrounding such stripand tightened thereabout by the usual screw such as 93. The lowerannular portion of said strip 91 extends substantially below the bottomannular surface of member 83 as best illustrated in FIG. 6. Said strip91 of said somewhat resilient material provides for substantiallyhermetical sealing between an article to be transferred and contacted bythe lower annular surface 91a of such strip while also, in conjunctionwith spring 84, providing for cushioning between such a contactedarticle and chuck CH. This will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art. It is pointed out that the previously discussed apparatusarrangement, including sprockets SP1 and SP2, chain CN and tube 34,maintains chuck CH in a generally vertical depending attitude at alltimes during the reciprocative rotation of rockshaft RS and rocker armRA, and arm 33, through their substantially 180 arc of movement orrotation so that said article contacting lower annular surface 91a ofresilient strip 9] always extends generally parallel with a horizontallyextending plane.

Referring now to FIG. 12 of the drawings there is shown, schematically,a control system for the foregoing described apparatus of the invention.The components or parts designated in FIG. 12 as M, CBA, GB, RS, RA, CH,C1, C2, C3, VM, 18, 40a, 41a, 42, 46, 59, 69 and 76 correspond,respectively, to similarly designated components or parts shown in theother figures of the drawings as will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art. In addition, there is also shown in FIG. 2 anelectrical circuit controlling master switch designated MS, first,second and third potentiometers designated POT], POT2 and POT3,respectively, the electri cally actuated clutch and brake ofclutch-brake assembly CBA and designated C and B, respectively, a timingdrum designated TD, an electrically controlled or actuated relay RL, andfirst and second conveyor belts designated C81 and CB2, respectively.Conveyor belt CB1 delivers intermittently to an article transferstation, designated station A, articles or ware such as W which are tobe transferred by the apparatus of the present invention to an articlereceiving or delivery station designated station B. Said articles orware such as W are intermittently delivered in a timed sequence to saidstation A by conveyor belt CB1 which is under control of the previouslymentioned timing drum TD. Conveyor belt CB2 is merely controlled to moveat a sufficient speed to move each article of ware, such as Wtransferred thereto by the apparatus of the invention, out of the way ofthe next succeeding article of ware to be so transferred to conveyorbelt CB2.

Referring now to FIG. 12 of the drawings in more detail, master switchMS includes an electrical contact ECl which is connected to terminal Xof a source of electrical current suitable for actuation or activationof the electrically energized apparatus employed but which is not shownin the drawings for purposes of simplification thereof. Switch MSfurther includes an electrical contact EC2 which is connected over asuitable electrical conductor CD1 to an input terminal of potentiometerPOTl, to a movable contact member TDI of a set of electrical circuitcontacts TDI and TD2 of tinting drum TD and to a first movable contactmember RLl of a set of electrical circuit controlling contacts RL1, RL2and RL3 of relay RL. Switch MS further includes a manually actuated pushbutton contact PBC which, when manually depressed, makes an electricalconnection between said electrical contacts ECl and EC2 of such switch.After such a depression of push button contact PBC said electricalconnection is maintained until the push button contact is pulled tointerrupt the electrical connection between said contacts ECl and EC2.The output terminal of potentiometer POTl is connected over anelectrical conductor CD2 to the one terminal of previously discussedelectric motor M whose second terminal is connected over anotherconductor CD3 to the second terminal Y of the previously mentionedcurrent source.

Fixed contact member TD2 of timing drum TD is connected over a conductorCDA terminal of the control winding of relay RL and to a second movablecontact member RL4 of a set of electrical circuit controlling contactsRL4 and RLS of such relay RL. Fixed contact member RLS of relay RL isconnected over a conductor CD5 to previously mentioned contact LSCl oflimit switch LS which is the movable contact member of such switch.Fixed contact member LSC2 of switch LS is connected over a conductor CD6to previously mentioned terminal X of said current source. Previouslymentioned and fixed contact member RL2 of relay RL is connected over aconductor CD7 to one terminal of potentiometer POT2 whose secondterminal is connected over a conductor CD9 to previously mentionedterminal Y of said current source. Previously mentioned and fixedcontact member RL3 of relay RL is connected over a conductor CD10 to oneterminal of potentiometer POT3 whose second terminal is connected over aconductor CD11 to one terminal of the brake B of clutch-break assemblyCBA whose second terminal is connected over a conductor CD12 to saidterminal Y of said current source. It is pointed out that the articletransfer apparatus of the invention for purposes of clarity ofillustration of the structure of such apparatus, is shown in FIG. 1 withrocker arm RA in a vertical position. However, in FIG. 12 rocker arm RAis shown in a horizontal position immediately following the transfer bysuch arm of a piece of ware or article such as W to station B, that is,to the article receiving station.

The apparatus comprising the invention having been described in detail,an operational example of the invention will be given with reference toFIG. 12 taken in conjunction with the other FIGS. Of the drawings.

For purposes of the operational example it will be assumed that masterswitch MS is closed as shown in FIG. 12 and that motor M is thereforeenergized over conductor CD1, potentiometer POTl, and conductors CD2 andCD3. It will be further assumed that the clutch C of clutch-brake meansor assembly CBA is energized over conductor CD1, contacts RLl-RLZ ofrelay RL, conductor CD7, potentiometer POT2, and conductors CD8 and CD9.It will also be assumed that rocker arm RA and chuck CH have justtransferred an article such as W to conveyor belt CB2, which has a firstend located at said article receiving station or station B for receiptof transferred articles such as W, and that positive pressurizedaeriform fluid has been and is still being supplied to chuck CH toassure release of said article from such chuck by blowing there against.Such positive pressurized fluid flows through conduit 46 (FIGS. 3 and12) passage VlC and into chamber V1 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of valve means VM.It such time valve 40 is in its raised or open position by the high partC3A of cam wheel C3 pushing against wheel or roller 59 on the bottom ofvalve stem 40a. (See also FIG. 12). Said pressurized fluid thereforeflows into chamber VIA in valve means VM and thence through passage 42(FIG. 4) in such valve means into chamber V2 from whence it flowsthrough passage 43 (FIGS. 3 and 5) and into chamber V3 in the valvemeans. From chamber V3 the fluid flows through the hollow of rockshaftRS (FIG. 1) to conduit or pipe 36 and thence through rotary union RU andtube 34 in arm 33 to the upper member 88 of chuck CH. The fluid thenflows through passage 82 in chuck CH and out of the bottom of such chuckto impinge against the surface of the transferred article of ware andrelease it from the chuck onto the upper surface of conveyor belt CB2 asillustrated in FIG. 12.

Since previously mentioned clutch C of clutch-brake means CBA isenergized or activated and, therefore, spur gear SGl is being rotated ina counterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 7on such spur gear, rack R is being moved upwardly to impartcounterclockwise rotation to pinion gear PG and rotate rockshaft RS in acorresponding direction to actuate rocker arm RA and, thereby, chuck CHfrom article receiving station or station B towards the article transferstation or station A to which a succeeding piece of ware on article suchas W has been delivered by conveyor belt CB1 for transfer of sucharticle. Following a sufficient degree of said rotation of spur gearSG1, spur gear SG2 has been driven in a clockwise direction (asindicated by the arrow on gear 8G2 in FIG. 7) to a sufficient degree tocause sufficient rotation of cam wheel C3 in a corresponding direction,indicated by the arrow on such cam in FIG. 12, so that the high part C3Aof cam wheel C3 no longer presses against roller 59. Spring 56 of cam 40(FIGS. 1 and 4) as well as the pressurized fluid supplied to chamber V1pushes valve 40 downwardly to its seated or closed position and the flowof said fluid to chuck CH is thereby terminated.

When rack R is actuated by rotation of spur gear 801 to a pointsubstantially at or slightly past the midway point in its upward strokeas shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 and rocker arm has been started downwardly byfurther rotation of spur gear SGl, spur gear SG2 is also further rotatedin its clockwise direction to impart corresponding rotation to cam wheelC1 and cause the high part ClA of such cam wheel to press against rolleror wheel 69 on the bottom end of valve stem 41a of valve 41 and therebyactuate such valve to its open or unseated position. At such time vacuumsupplied to conduit 47 (FIGS. 3 and 12) is supplied through passage V2C(FIGS. 3, 4 and in valve means VM and thence to chamber V2A in suchvalve means. From chamber V2A the vacuum is supplied to chamber V2 invalve means VM and thence to passage 43 and over the previouslydescribed route of flow of the positive pressurized aeriform fluid tovacuum chuck CH. Thus, preparation for picking up the article or pieceof ware such as W positioned on conveyor belt CB1 at station A is made.

During further upward actuation of rack R by further rotation of spurgear SGl, rocker arm RA and thereby chuck CH are actuated downwardly byfurther rotation of pinion gear PG and, when rack R approaches orreaches the end of its upward stroke, chuck CH has been actuateddownwardly sufficiently that the bottom surface 91a of the strip ofresilient material 91 on the bottom of chuck CH contacts the innersurface of the bottom of the article or piece of ware such as Wpositioned at station A for transfer thereof. The vacuum supplied tochuck CH at such time causes said article W to, of course, be heldagainst said surface 91a at the bottom of the chuck for transfer of thearticle as discussed below.

Further rotation of spur SGl moves rack R in its downward direction toimpart clockwise rotation to pinion gear PG and rockshaft RS, andthereby actuate rocker arm RA, and chuck CH and the supported article W,from station A towards station B. At such time, and when the article hasbeen lifted from the top surface of conveyor belt CB1 and is in theclear of a succeeding article such as W to be delivered to station A byconveyor belt CB1, timing drum TD actuates a contact to energize themotor which drives conveyor belt CB1 to deliver such other succeedingarticle or piece of ware, such as W, to transfer station A for pickupand transfer of such article. However, the control of the intermittentmovement of conveyor belt CB1 to intermittently deliver articles orpieces of ware such as W to transfer station A for pickup and transferthereof does not, per se, comprise a part of the present invention and,therefore, details of such control are not shown in the drawings. Itshould be pointed ut, however, that movable contact TDl of timing drumTD is actuated by such timing drum in a selected or suitable timerelationship or synchronism with the delivery of each said article suchas W, to station A.

When rocker arm RA and chuck CH with its supported article or piece ofware such as W approaches or nears the delivery position of such articleW to conveyor belt CB2 at the article receiving station or station B,cam wheel C2 has been rotated sufiiciently that the high point C2A onsuch cam wheel C2 contacts roller or wheel 72 (FIGS. 2 and 12) onactuating arm 71 of limit switch LS so that movable contact LSCl of suchlimit switch is momentarily actuated to open and interrupt the stick orholding circuit for relay RL which extends over contacts RL4-RL5 of suchrelay and normally maintains relay RL in its energized condition. Suchdeenergization of relay RL causes movable contact member RL1 to movefrom contact RL2 of such relay and open the energizing or activatingcircuit of clutch C of clutch-brake means or assembly CBA, and to closeagainst contact RL3 to close the energizing or activating circuit tobrake B of clutch-brake means CBA. Such operation of movable contactmember RL1 of relay R brakes the otherwise substantially rapid movementof rocker arm RA and chuck CH towards their positions shown at station Bin FIG. 12 of the drawings. However, cam C2 rotates sufficiently furtherso that contacts LSCl-LSCZ of switch LS again close to prepare theholding or stick circuit for relay RL.

Just prior to or immediately following the transfer of an article suchas W to article receiving station or station B, cam wheel C1 has beenrotated sufficiently so that the high part CIA of such wheel no longerpushes against roller or wheel 69 on valve stem 41a of valve 41 toactuate such valve to supply vacuum to chuck CH as previously described.Valve spring 67, aided by the vacuum supplied to chamber V2A in valvemeans VM, now causes valve 41 to become closed or seated and said supplyof vacuum to chuck CH is interrupted. Substantially at the same time thehigh part C3A of cam wheel C3 pushes against roller 59 on stem 40a ofvalve 40 to again open or unseat such valve and again supply positivepressurized aeriform fluid to chuck CH over the fluid flow pressurizedfluid circuit previously traced. As also previously mentioned, saidpositive pressurized fluid assures release of a transferred article suchas W from the bottom article contacting surface 91a of the resilientstrip of material 91 surrounding the lower end of chuck CH by, ineflect, blowing the article such as W from in contact with said surface91A.

Following the above described release of a transferred article such as Wfrom chuck CH and onto conveyor belt CB2, timing drum TD momentarilyactuates its movable contact member TDl to close against fixed contactmember TD2 and reenergize relay R which is then held in its energizedcondition by its holding or stick circuit including contacts LSCl-LSC2of limit switch L5. The momentary closure of contacts TDl-TDZ of timingdrum TD is, of course, dependent on the delivery of a succeeding articlesuch as W to article transfer station or station A for transfer thereofand, if such a succeeding article has been so delivered to such stationA, the apparatus again operates in the manner above described totransfer the succeeding article such as W to article receiving stationor station B. 7

It is pointed out that positive pressurized aeriform fluid need notnecessarily be provided to assure release of a transferred article suchas W from chuck CH but that the termination or interruption of thevacuum holding such an article to such chuck may be consideredsufficient for satisfactory release of such article. Furthermore, apotentiometer such as POTl and a variable speed motor such as M need notnecessarily be employed but motor M could be a constant speed motor andpotentiometer POTl dispensed with. Under such conditions potentiometersPOT2 and POT3 are suitably adjusted to control the rate of activation ofthe clutch C and brake B, respectively, of clutch-brake means CBA.Furthermore, timing drum TD can be arranged to close contacts TD1-TD2thereof in accordance with the speed of delivery of each article orpiece of ware such as W to station A for transfer of such article.However, it must be assured that movable contact member LSCl of limitswitch LS opens to release rely RL to provide satisfactory braking ofthe apparatus prior to the closure of contacts TDl-TDZ of timing drumTD. This can be accomplished by suitable rotative positioning oradjustment of cam C2 on shaft or axle 76 of the apparatus. A limitedamount of experimentation may be necessary in order to provide for thecorrect or opu'mum timing, or time relationship of and between theoperation of the various components or parts of the apparatus disclosed.Furthermore, the apparatus disclosed need not necessarily be used fortransferring articles or pieces of ware between conveyor belts asdescribed herein, but such apparatus can be used for transferring sucharticles from any location, to and at which they are delivered andrelatively precisely positioned, to any article receiving station orapparatus from which the articles are suitably moved so that asucceeding one of the articles can be similarly transferred withoutinterference with a preceding transferred article. 7

It is also pointed out that, rather than the use of a piston rod drivenby the usual piston and associated cylinder arrangement for thereciprocative actuation of a rack such as R between the ends of itsreciprocative path of travel, that is, between the ends of its upwardand downwards strokes as disclosed in the aforementioned patent to Rowe,the use of a crank means including a crank arm such as CA for impartingreciprocative motion to rack R inherently provides for smooth actuationof the rack away from the upper and lower ends of its said strokes orpath of travel by providing gradually increasing acceleration betweensaid ends and the rnidstroke point of the travel of said rack, andgradually decreasing deceleration between said midstroke point and theupper and lower ends of the path of travel or the strokes of the rack R.In other words, as crank arm CA moves between the position of spur gearSGl which is the lowermost position for the pivotal connection of crankarm CA to such spur gear during the rotation of the spur gear, theupward movement of such crank arm CA and, thereby, rack R is graduallyaccelerated until rack R reaches the midway point illustrated in FIGS. 1and 7 of the drawings. Thereafter, during further rotation of spur gear861 and upward movement of crank arm CA and rack R from said midwaypoint, the upward movement of such crank arm and rack R is graduallydecelerated until spur gear 861 reaches the uppermost position for thepivotal connection of crank arm CA to such spur gear. Thus, graduallyaccelerated and decelerated upward movement of rack R is imparted tosuch rack by crank arm CA. After the pivotal connection of crank arm CAto spur gear SGl reaches its uppermost position, similar acceleration isimparted to crank arm CA and, thereby, to rack R, during the furtherrotation of spur gear 861 between said uppermost position of saidpivotal connection and the midway position of the downward stroke ofrack R, and similar deceleration is imparted to crank arm CA and,thereby, to rack R, during the further rotation of spur gear 861 betweensaid midway position of the downward stroke of rack R and the lowermostposition of the pivotal connection of crank arm CA to spur gear SGl.Such movement of crank arm CA, and corresponding movement of rack R,impart a sinusoidal motion or smooth accelerating and deceleratingreciprocating rotation of pinion gear PG, corresponding smooth rotationof rockshaft RS, and relatively smooth reciprocative sinusoidal motionor movement of rocker arm RA through its 180 path or are of travel.Therefore, by the use of the crank means comprising spur gear SGl andcrank arm CA which are driven by a motor, such as M rotating at aconstant speed, rather than by the usual piston rod including anassociated piston and cylinder arrangement as previously mentioned,smooth accelerating and decelerating motion of but because the lower endof crank arm CA is driven through a circular path of motion or travelfor the reciprocative vertical sinusoidal actuation of rack R.

Although there is herein shown and described in detail only one form ofapparatus embodying the invention disclosed, it will be understood thatvarious changes and modifications may be made in the invention withinthe purview of the appended claims and without departing from the spiritand scope thereof.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for individually transferring each of a plurality of diskor dish-like articles from an article transfer station, to which saidarticles are intermittently and sequentially delivered in a selectedtime sequence, to an article receiving station, such apparatuscomprising, in combination;

A. a rocker arm having a first end mounted on one end of a hollowrockshaft for reciprocative movement of said rocker arm through anapproximately 180 vertical arc of travel whose first end is located atsaid transfer station and whose second end is located at said receivingstation B. a hollow shaft secured adjacent its first end to the secondend of said rocker arm and having its second end extending outwardlyfrom such rocker arm in a direction substantially normal to saidvertical arc of rotation of the rocker arm,

C. a hollow tube extending snugly through said hollow shaft secured tosaid rocker arm and rotatable therein, such tube having first and secondends extending beyond said first and second ends respectively of suchhollow shaft,

D. an article transfer aeriform fluid chuck supported on said second endof said tube and embodying a fluid passage hermetically connecting withthe hollow of said tube,

E. a rotary union mounted on said first end of said tube and embodying afluid passage hermetically connecting with the hollow of said tube,

F. a toothed rack supported for sliding movement through a substantiallyvertical path of travel,

G. a gear including a toothed gear sector of at least 180 with the teeththereof meshing with the teeth of said rack and keyed to said rockshaftfor movement therewith,

H. a gear box including an input shaft and an output shaft,

1. crank means connected to said output shaft of said gear box fordriven rotation thereby and including a crankpin,

J. a crank arm having a first end pivotally connected to said rack and asecond end pivotally connected to said crankpin of said crank means,

K. an electric motor connectable across a source of electrical power forenergization thereof,

L. an electrically actuated clutch-brake means connected to the outputshaft of said motor and said input shaft of said gearbox,

M. electric circuit means including electrical circuit controllingcontacts for separately activating the clutch and brake of saidclutch-brake means to transmit rotative motion from the output shaft ofsaid motor to the input shaft of said gear box in a time relationshipwith the delivery of each said article to said transfer station and tointerrupt such transmission of rotative motion and supply braking of theinput shaft of said gear box each time said rocker arm nears said secondend of its arc of travel,

N. aeriforrn fluid conduit means hermetically connecting a first end ofthe hollow in said hollow rockshaft with said fluid passage in saidrotary union, and

O. valve means actuated in relationship with said reciprocative movementof said rocker arm for supplying negative aeriforrn fluid pressure tothe second end of the hollow in said hollow rockshaft prior to saidrocker arm reaching said first end of its said are of travel duringmovement of such rocker arm towards such first end and for interruptingsaid supply of negative pressure when said rocker arm reaches saidsecond end of its said are of travel.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and in which said the apparatuscomprising the invention is inherently attained valve means suppliespositive aeriform fluid pressure to said second end of the hollow insaid hollow rockshaft when said supply of negative pressure thereto isinterrupted at said second end of the arc of travel of said rocker arm.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 and in which said crank meanscomprises a first spur gear having a face pivotally connected to saidsecond end of said crank arm and said valve means is actuated by camwheels keyed to a shaft which is driven by a second spur gear havingteeth meshing with the teeth of said first spur gear.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 and in which said clutch of saidclutch-brake means is energized over an electrical circuit controllingcontact of said electric circuit means for transmission of said rotativemotion from the output shaft of said motor to the input shaft of saidgearbox.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 and in which said brake of saidclutch-brake means is energized an electrical circuit controllingcontact of said circuit means to supply said braking of the input shaftof said gear box.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 and in which said clutch of saidclutch-brake means is energized over an electrical circuit controllingcontact of said electric circuit means for transmission of said rotativemotion from the output shaft of said motor to the input shaft of saidgearbox.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 and in which said brake of saidclutch-brake means is energized over an electrical circuit controllingcontact of said circuit means to supply said braking of the input shaftof said gearbox.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and in which said crank meanscomprises a first spur gear having a face pivotally connected to saidsecond end of said crank arm and said valve means is actuated by camwheels keyed to a shaft which is driven by a second spur gear havingteeth meshing with the teeth of said first spur gear.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 and in which said clutch of saidclutch-brake means is energized over an electrical circuit controllingcontact of said electric circuit means for transmission of said rotativemotion from the output shaft of said motor to the input shaft of saidgearbox.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 and in which said brake of saidclutch-brake means is energized over an electrical circuit controllingcontact of said circuit means to supply said braking of the input shaftof said gear box.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and in which said clutch ofsaid clutch-brake means is energized over an electrical circuitcontrolling contact of said electric circuit means for transmission ofsaid rotative motion from the output shalt of said motor to the inputshaft of said gearbox.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 and in which said brake ofsaid clutch-brake means is energized over an electrical circuitcontrolling contact of said circuit means to supply said braking of theinput shaft of said gearbox.

13. Apparatus for individually and sequentially transferring to anarticle receiving station each of a sequence of relatively flat ordish-like articles intemiittently delivered in a selected time sequenceto an article transfer station, such apparatus comprising;

A. an upright housing for said apparatus,

B. a horizontal rockshaft rotatably supported by said housing with theends thereof extending exteriorly of said housing,

C. a rocker arm having a first end secured to one end of said rockshaftfor rotational movement therewith and a second end connected to a hollowhorizontally extending shaft supporting a vacuum chuck dependingvertically therefrom,

D. a pinion gear comprising a toothed gear sector of at least and keyedto said rockshaft within said housing,

E. a rack having teeth meshing with the teeth of said pinion gear andsupported in said housing for substantially verti cal reciprocativemovement thereof within the housing.

F. a spur gear rotatably disposed below said rack within said housingand keyed to an output shaft extending into said housin from a gear boxattached to a wall of the housingl l G. a cran arm having a first endrotatably connected wit one end of said rack and a second end rotatablyand eccentrically connected with one face of said spur gear forreciprocative movement of said rack for driven reciprocative rotation ofsaid pinion gear through approximately 180 of reciprocative rotationalmovement thereof by each 180 of rotation of said spur gear,

H. an electric motor including an output shaft,

1. an electrically controlled clutch-brake operatively connected betweensaid output shaft of said motor and the input shaft of said gearbox,

.l. valve means for at selected times supplying negative fluid pressureto said vacuum chuck and actuated in relationship with the movement ofsaid second end of said rocker arm through an approximately vertical 180arc of travel extending between said article receiving station and saidarticle transfer station, and I K. electrical circuit means actuated insynchronism with the delivery of each said article to said transferstation and the transfer of each said article to said receiving stationfor energizing said clutch-brake to selectively connect said outputshaft of said motor to said input shaft of said gearbox following eachpickup and delivery of an article by said vacuum chuck and to disconnectsaid output shaft of said motor from said input shaft of said gearboxand brake the input shaft of the gearbox just prior to the arrival ofsaid vacuum chuck at said article receiving station.

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 and in which said valve meansare actuated to supply positive fluid pressure to said vacuum chuckimmediately following the transfer of each said article to said articlereceiving station.

1. Apparatus for individually transferring each of a plurality of diskor dish-like articles from an article transfer station, to which saidarticles are intermittently and sequentially delivered in a selectedtime sequence, to an article receiving station, such apparatuscomprising, in combination; A. a rocker arm having a first end mountedon one end of a hollow rockshaft for reciprocative movement of saidrocker arm through an approximately 180* vertical arc of travel whosefirst end is located at said transfer station and whose second end islocated at said receiving station B. a hollow shaft secured adjacent itsfirst end to the second end of said rocker arm and having its second endextending outwardly from such rocker arm in a direction substantiallynormal to said vertical arc of rotation of the rocker arm, C. a hollowtube extending snugly through said hollow shaft secured to said rockerarm and rotatable therein, such tube having first and second endsextending beyond said first and second ends respectively of such hollowshaft, D. an article transfer aeriform fluid chuck supported on saidsecond end of said tube and embodying a fluid passage hermeticallyconnecting with the hollow of said tube, E. a rotary union mounted onsaid first end of said tube and embodying a fluid passage hermeticallyconnecting with the hollow of said tube, F. a toothed rack supported forsliding movement through a substantially vertical path of travel, G. agear including a toothed gear sector of at least 180* with the teeththereof meshing with the teeth of said rack and keyed to said rockshaftfor movement therewith, H. a gear box including an input shaft and anoutput shaft, I. crank means connected to said output shaft of said gearbox for driven rotation thereby and including a crankpin, J. a crank armhaving a first end pivotally connected to said rack and a second endpivotally connected to said crankpin of said crank means, K. an electricmotor connectable across a source of electrical power for energizationthereof, L. an electrically actuated clutch-brake means connected to theoutput shaft of said motor and said input shaft of said gearbox, M.electric circuit means including electrical circuit controlling contactsfor separately activating the clutch and brake of said clutch-brakemeans to transmit rotative motion from the output shaft of said motor tothe input shaft of said gear box in a time relationship with thedelivery of each said article to said transfer station and to interruptsuch transmission of rotative motion and supply braking of the inputshaft of said gear box each time said rocker arm nears said second endof its arc of travel, N. aeriform fluid conduit means hermeticallyconnecting a first end of The hollow in said hollow rockshaft with saidfluid passage in said rotary union, and O. valve means actuated inrelationship with said reciprocative movement of said rocker arm forsupplying negative aeriform fluid pressure to the second end of thehollow in said hollow rockshaft prior to said rocker arm reaching saidfirst end of its said arc of travel during movement of such rocker armtowards such first end and for interrupting said supply of negativepressure when said rocker arm reaches said second end of its said arc oftravel.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and in which said valvemeans supplies positive aeriform fluid pressure to said second end ofthe hollow in said hollow rockshaft when said supply of negativepressure thereto is interrupted at said second end of the arc of travelof said rocker arm.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 and in whichsaid crank means comprises a first spur gear having a face pivotallyconnected to said second end of said crank arm and said valve means isactuated by cam wheels keyed to a shaft which is driven by a second spurgear having teeth meshing with the teeth of said first spur gear. 4.Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 and in which said clutch of saidclutch-brake means is energized over an electrical circuit controllingcontact of said electric circuit means for transmission of said rotativemotion from the output shaft of said motor to the input shaft of saidgearbox.
 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 and in which said brakeof said clutch-brake means is energized an electrical circuitcontrolling contact of said circuit means to supply said braking of theinput shaft of said gear box.
 6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2and in which said clutch of said clutch-brake means is energized over anelectrical circuit controlling contact of said electric circuit meansfor transmission of said rotative motion from the output shaft of saidmotor to the input shaft of said gearbox.
 7. Apparatus in accordancewith claim 6 and in which said brake of said clutch-brake means isenergized over an electrical circuit controlling contact of said circuitmeans to supply said braking of the input shaft of said gearbox. 8.Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and in which said crank meanscomprises a first spur gear having a face pivotally connected to saidsecond end of said crank arm and said valve means is actuated by camwheels keyed to a shaft which is driven by a second spur gear havingteeth meshing with the teeth of said first spur gear.
 9. Apparatus inaccordance with claim 8 and in which said clutch of said clutch-brakemeans is energized over an electrical circuit controlling contact ofsaid electric circuit means for transmission of said rotative motionfrom the output shaft of said motor to the input shaft of said gearbox.10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 and in which said brake of saidclutch-brake means is energized over an electrical circuit controllingcontact of said circuit means to supply said braking of the input shaftof said gear box.
 11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and in whichsaid clutch of said clutch-brake means is energized over an electricalcircuit controlling contact of said electric circuit means fortransmission of said rotative motion from the output shaft of said motorto the input shaft of said gearbox.
 12. Apparatus in accordance withclaim 11 and in which said brake of said clutch-brake means is energizedover an electrical circuit controlling contact of said circuit means tosupply said braking of the input shaft of said gearbox.
 13. Apparatusfor individually and sequentially transferring to an article receivingstation each of a sequence of relatively flat or dish-like articlesintermittently delivered in a selected time sequence to an articletransfer station, such apparatus comprising; A. an upright housing forsaid apparatus, B. a horizontal rockshaft rotatably supported by saidhousing with the ends thereof extending exteriorly of said housing, C. arocker arm having a first end secured to one end of said rockshaft forrotational movement therewith and a second end connected to a hollowhorizontally extending shaft supporting a vacuum chuck dependingvertically therefrom, D. a pinion gear comprising a toothed gear sectorof at least 180* and keyed to said rockshaft within said housing, E. arack having teeth meshing with the teeth of said pinion gear andsupported in said housing for substantially vertical reciprocativemovement thereof within the housing. F. a spur gear rotatably disposedbelow said rack within said housing and keyed to an output shaftextending into said housing from a gear box attached to a wall of thehousing, G. a crank arm having a first end rotatably connected with oneend of said rack and a second end rotatably and eccentrically connectedwith one face of said spur gear for reciprocative movement of said rackfor driven reciprocative rotation of said pinion gear throughapproximately 180* of reciprocative rotational movement thereof by each180* of rotation of said spur gear, H. an electric motor including anoutput shaft, I. an electrically controlled clutch-brake operativelyconnected between said output shaft of said motor and the input shaft ofsaid gearbox, J. valve means for at selected times supplying negativefluid pressure to said vacuum chuck and actuated in relationship withthe movement of said second end of said rocker arm through anapproximately vertical 180* arc of travel extending between said articlereceiving station and said article transfer station, and K. electricalcircuit means actuated in synchronism with the delivery of each saidarticle to said transfer station and the transfer of each said articleto said receiving station for energizing said clutch-brake toselectively connect said output shaft of said motor to said input shaftof said gearbox following each pickup and delivery of an article by saidvacuum chuck and to disconnect said output shaft of said motor from saidinput shaft of said gearbox and brake the input shaft of the gearboxjust prior to the arrival of said vacuum chuck at said article receivingstation.
 14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 and in which saidvalve means are actuated to supply positive fluid pressure to saidvacuum chuck immediately following the transfer of each said article tosaid article receiving station.